An Active Day–Friday–January 4, 2013

 

Warning:  this is a long post with lots of photos….it was a VERY active day;o))

 

We started off bright and early with a 10 mile bike ride.  I guess Nancy is roping me into HER New Years Resolution to up the biking miles.  See, I told you she has a way of getting things done;o))  Actually it really felt good to get back to riding our bikes!!  On our ride we spotted a huge flock of Wild Turkeys. 

 

 

After breakfast, we hopped in the car and drove just 10 miles down the road, Route 19,

to the Yearling Trail.

  

It was raining very lightly, but not enough to stop us from hiking;o)

 

 

The trail is a little over 6 miles long and located in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness Area.

We followed the map to #6, then skipped #7 & 8 and backed tracked to 9, 10, and 11.

That made our hike a little over 5 miles.

We first heard about the trail from Sherry and David, who wrote a wonderful post about the trail and the history of this area.  Click on there name above and check it out…no sense recreating the wheel;o))

The film, The Yearling, starring Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman was filmed here. 

The movie was based on the book of the same name written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

(Be sure to click on any photo to enlarge)

 

 

Our hike was a pretty walk through various ecosystems.

 

 

 

 

Birds were the only wildlife we saw.

 

                    Scrub Jay                  

 

 

Red-headed Woodpecker

 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

 

 

People actually lived here up until the late 30’s.

 

 

You would be hard pressed to find evidence of that

other than the few markings that were labeled for us.

 

#2 and #4  The Cattle Dip and The Sink Hole

  

 

#5 and # 9  Patrick Smith’s Home Site and the Long Cemetery.

Patrick wasn’t around so Bill was his stand-in;o))

 

 

Our favorite site was this lovely Live Oak in the middle of the Pine Trees!!

 

We got back to the motorhome about 1pm, had lunch,

then headed to the boat launch here at Salt Springs with ourt Sea Eagle kayak. 

 

Two of our RV neighbors had just got Sea Eagles exactly like ours and

asked us to join them on their maiden voyage. 

Of course, we agreed!! 

 

Everybody ready to launch… we had lots of spectators too;o)) 

 

Jerry and Pam

 

Ron and Terri

 

Notice how quickly Terri learn the Linda Payne kayaking style;o))

 

What a great afternoon. 

We didn’t do a lot of paddling,

but we spent a lot of time floating amongst the Manatees.

 

 

 

Tom scratching the manatees back.

 

Ron and Terri getting a Manatee Hug;o))

 

 

Female Manatee nursing her calf!!!

 

Nature IS Amazing!!!

 

 

 

 

What a wonderful day!!!

I guarantee I will be ready for a good night’s sleep. 

I’m already yawning and it's barely 7pm—Good Night!!